New interim president for the MRC

At the end of 2004, Prof William Pick retired as interim president of the Medical Research Council of South Africa. Replacing him this year is Prof Anthony MBewu. JULIAN JACOBS reports.

The recent appointment of Professor Anthony MBewu as the new interim president of the Medical Research Council of South Africa comes as no surprise to most as this energetic and hard working cardiology specialist has proved that he is fit for the job.

Speaking about his recent appointment, Prof MBewu said he was welcoming the challenges the post holds.

'I am looking forward to strengthening the developments set in place by my predecessor and to further the ideals of the MRC Board in developing the MRC as the best science council in Africa,' he said.

His appointment was announced recently by the newly appointed chairperson of the MRC board, Professor Mapule Ramashala. The appointment came into effect from 1 January 2005 and will initially run for six months, or until a substantive appointment is made.

Prior to his appointment, Prof MBewu held the position of executive director for research at the MRC for a total of eight years. During this period the MRC has experienced unprecedented growth in its size, budget (including a doubling of its Government grant) and research portfolio, as well as significant transformation in its organisational culture and demographics. This was also a period during which the MRC became probably the leading health research institution in Africa and has come to be widely respected throughout the world.

During the two years prior to that, Prof MBewu was a consultant cardiologist in the cardiac clinic of the department of medicine at the University of Cape Town - a department in which he is currently a visiting professor in medicine and cardiology.

Prof MBewu trained in medicine at Oxford and London universities, qualifying in 1983. He subsequently trained as a specialist in cardiology (invasive cardiology) and in general medicine at the University of Manchester. He has served on many national and international scientific and medical bodies and forums.

He has recently been appointed chair of the task team looking at issues around donor blood in South Africa.

Prof MBewu grew up in Alexandria township just outside Johannesburg. He returned to South Africa two weeks before the first democratic election in April 1994, after being in exile for 27 years. He is married and has three children.

The MRC's Corporate Communication and Stakeholder Relations Directorate is pleased to welcome Prof MBewu to his new post. We are looking forward to seeing the MRC experience even more growth and increased visibility under his guidance, which will attract the best young scientists that South Africa has to offer.

Julian Jacobs is division manager of the MRC's Corporate Communication and Stakeholder Relations Directorate.